Hall ejects fete for `Bull Durham'

Ex-Reagan staffer cites Robbins' anti-war stance

April 11, 2003|By Steve Zipay, Tribune newspapers: Newsday.

The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum has canceled a Cooperstown celebration of the 15th anniversary of the release of the movie "Bull Durham" because actor Tim Robbins' public criticism of President Bush's decision to invade Iraq "ultimately could put our troops in even more danger."

Robbins, who portrayed pitcher Nuke LaLoosh in the film, called that suggestion "absurd" and ripped Hall of Fame President Dale Petroskey's edict as politically driven and "embarrassing to baseball."

Major League Baseball officials Thursday quickly distanced themselves from the issue. Although Commissioner Bud Selig sits on the Hall's board of directors, he was not advised of Petroskey's decision, a spokesman said.

"Major League Baseball had nothing to do with the event and it's not our practice to make political statements," he said

In a letter dated April 9 that defended Bush's Iraq policy, Petroskey notified Robbins that the April 26-27 commemoration, which included several showings of the movie, a roundtable discussion and an autograph session, would be shelved.

"We believe your very public criticism at this important--and sensitive--time in our nation's history helps undermine the U.S. position," Petroskey wrote. "As an institution, we stand behind our president and our troops in this conflict."

Robbins noted Thursday that Petroskey was a White House assistant press secretary in the Reagan administration from 1985-87 and had partisan ties to the current administration.

"I'm mostly disappointed that this man has chosen to make a political issue out of it," Robbins said. "This is about sending a message to the country that if you oppose this administration, you'll pay, there will be consequences, we will punish you. And that's so un-American. Those kind of tactics are beneath democracy and beneath baseball."

Robbins said he and his companion, Susan Sarandon, who also starred in the film, had no intention of using the event as a forum.

"I was looking forward to a weekend away from politics and war," he said.

Petroskey wrote that Bush, "after months of careful deliberations," decided to "end the brutal regime of Saddam Hussein and to disarm Iraq of deadly weapons which could be used against its enemies, including the United States. In order to accomplish this, nearly 300,000 American military personnel are in harm's way."

The Hall is a separate entity from MLB, although former Commissioner Bowie Kuhn, Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Royals owner David Glass, a number of former players and executives sit on its board of directors.

The schedule of events at the Hall isn't pre-approved by the board of directors.

Baseball sources suspect the Hall's response was not connected to Bush's former ownership of the Texas Rangers, but to the Republican Party connections of Petroskey and Hall Chairwoman Jane Forbes Clark, a wealthy GOP fundraiser and donor. Clark is the granddaughter of Stephen C. Clark Sr., who founded the museum in 1939.

Robbins, who donated the uniform he wore in "Bull Durham," said he would like to bring his kids back and urged others "not to let this Petroskey guy ruin your enjoyment. It's a great place."